Apparatus for extracting chocks, guides, and couplings from roll assemblies

ABSTRACT

The roll-disassembling apparatus disclosed is provided with saddle surfaces to support a roll assembly by engaging neck portions on the roll which are located between the bearing chocks and roll body. These saddle surfaces form part of a cradle assembly that is vertically movable to locate a roll assembly that is vertically movable to locate a roll assembly at a desired elevation where disassembling thereof takes place. At each side of the roll body there is provided a movable car having latches to support and extract a rest bar along with a roll guide mounted thereon. A coupling member at one end of the roll assembly is extracted by a movable carriage having a coupling support platen that may be elevated by a screwjack. The bearing chocks are next extracted from the roll journals by displaceable sleds, each having a chock support platen that may be elevated by a screwjack. The carriage used to remove the coupling member is independently supported by one of the chock-extracting sleds.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James Richard Adair Pittsburgh, Pa.

[21] Appl. No. 817,881

[22] Filed Apr. 21, 1969 [45] Patented May 4, 1971 [73] Assignee United Engineering and Foundry Company Pittsburgh, Pa.

[54] APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING CI-IOCKS,

GUIDES, AND COUPLINGS FROM ROLL ASSEMBLIES 13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 72/239,

[51] Int. Cl B2lb 31/08 [50] Field of Search 29/200, 200

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,212,314 10/1965 Sieger 72/225 3,438,234 4/1969 Adair 72/238 3,459,023 8/1969 Adair 72/238 3,490,262 1/1970 Adair 72/238 Primary Examiner-John F. Campbell Assistant Examiner-Donald P. Rooney Attorney-Henry C. Westin rolhdisassembling apparatus disclosed is provided with saddle surfaces to support a roll assembly by engaging neck portions on the roll which are located between the bearing chocks and roll body. These saddle surfaces form part of a cradle assembly that is vertically movable to locate a roll assembly that is vertically movable to locate a roll assembly at a desired elevation where disassembling thereof takes place. At each side of the roll body there is provided a movable car having latches to support and extract a rest bar along with a roll guide mounted thereon. A coupling member at one end of the roll assembly is extracted by a movable carriage having a coupling support platen that may be elevated by a screwjack. The bearing chocks are next extracted from the roll journals by displaceable sleds, each having a chock support platen that may be elevated by a screwjack. The carriage used to remove the coupling member is independently supported by one of the chock-extracting sleds.

PATENTED m 4m:

SHEET 2. [1F 3 INVENTOR. JAMES 4.40144 A TTOR/VEV.

PATENTEU MAY 4 l97l SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR. JAMES ADA/R ATTORNEY.

-. APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING CHOCKS,GU1DES,'AND

COUPLINGS FRoMnoLL ASSEMBLIES BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION stands may be incorporated in a typical mill train.

It.may be anticipated that a substantial number of these roll assemblies will materiallydiffer with respect to roll body In order to reduce to a minimum the roll-changing time for such a rolling mill, it is a common practice to preassemble the roll assemblies for the mill stand well in advance of actual roll changing. Such preassembling may include-the precise positioning of the entry and delivery guides. The handling of these v roll assemblies, including extracting the component parts from a worn roll and assembling them on a replacement roll, may be performed by the use of a crane, but this is .a laborious and time-consuming operation that is unacceptable for presentv day installations.

Machines have been developed recently to dechock worn rolls and assemble these chocks on replacement rolls, but such machines have been. designed to accommodate roll assemblies from hot and/or cold strip rolling mills that consistently employ roll assemblies having substantially constant dimensional characteristics. This makes possible the supporting of the roll assemblies by platens or the like used to engage the face of the rolls during dechocking and assembling operations. However,

such machines cannot be successfully employed to extract the component parts from roll assemblies, such as the aforementioned horizontal roll assemblies for a combination mill, because of a number of important reasons. First, such machines cannot satisfactorily accommodate roll assemblies that widely vary dimensionally from roll assembly to roll as sembly. Secondly, a design for such-machines-has not been provided that can adequately support a wide range of roll body lengths. Thirdly, these machines cannot perform all the necessary disassembling and re'assembling operations, for example, mechanized handling of roll guides and rest bars.

1 It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for extracting component parts from any one .of a number of roll'assemblies which are characterized by having widely varying dimensions and shapes.

1 It is another object of the present invention to provide a versatile and efficient apparatus for extracting and/or assembling the component parts of roll assemblies.

In one form of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for extracting the component parts from a roll assembly, comprising:

These features. and advantages, as well as others, will be more fully-understood when the following description isread in light of the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevationalview of one form of apparatus embodying the features of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the apparatus shown in F IG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of a typical roll assembly to be received by the apparatus according to the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 5 is a partial planview of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated an apparatus according to the present invention for extracting the component parts from atypical roll assembly 10 removed from a rolling mill for producing wide flange beams. This as sembly includes bearing chocks 1'1 and 12 to which there are secured rest bars 13 and 14 extending between the chocks and supporting roll guides 15 and 16, respectively. A coupling member 17 is mounted on one end of a roll 18. Except for the coupling member 17, the component parts of the roll assembly 10 are shown in their assembled state in FIG. 3. As illustrated in this FIG., the roll 18 is constructed with a body portion 18a representingthe largest diameter of the roll. The roll is also constructed with reduced diameter neck portions 18b and located at each side of the body .1811 and exposed to the extent that the portions 18b and 180 are not encompassed within the chocks 11 and 12, respectively, but are located adjacent thereto. It is to be noted that each roll assembly will be provided with similarly shaped and dimensioned neck portions 18b and 180 that remain unaltered during reconditioning of the roll body by grinding or the like. As will be more apparent hereinafter, the neck portions 18b and 180 serve as the surfaces by which the roll assembly is supported, with the rotational axis of the roll disposed in a horizontal plane. FIG. 3 best illustrates the operative location of the rest bar 14 and guide'16, the latter being mounted by conventional means well known in the art to the rest bar in a close and precise position relative to the roll body 18a. The rest bar 14 extends between and is secured to the chocks l1 and 12 by keeper plates 11a and 12a, respectively. These plates are readily removable by extracting the threaded bolts 11b and 12b. It is important to note with respect to the roll assembly 10 that the relative sizesand shapes of its component parts previously described will vary, even substantially in certain instances, from roll assembly to roll assembly, which characteristic the apparatus, according to the present invention, is specifically designed to accommodate.

With reference to the embodiment of the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated in FIG. 2 acradle member 21 constructed in a generally U-shaped configuration formed by spaced-apart vertically projecting yokes 22 and 23 having semicircular saddlelike surfaces 22a and 23a at their extremities, which are constructed and arranged to engage the neck portions 18b and 180 and thereby support the roll assembly 10. The cradle 21 is supported within a foundationmounted housing 24 by a screw 25 rotatably received in a nut 26 supported by the housing. The nut is formed with gear teeth 27 on its outer periphery which mesh with a pinion, not shown, adapted for rotation by a handwheel 28. The rotation of the handwheel produces a rotation of the nut causing the screw 25 to be elevated, which, in turn, elevates the cradle member 21 and a roll assembly supported thereby to a desired position where extraction of the component parts takes place.

It is to be noted that in order that roll assemblies of widely.

varying physical dimensions may be accommodated, several difierent cradle members maybe provided and one substituted for the cradle member 21.

similarly constructed, each have at their upper portion a stationary block 36 having a recess into which there is received an L-shaped lower latch 37. An upper latch 38 is pivotally mounted to the latch 37, both of which are adapted to be elevated as a unit within the block 36 by rotating a handwheel 39 connected to a nut and threaded shaft assembly 40. To remove the rest bars 13 and 14 along with, if desired, the guides 15 and 16, the cars 31 and 32 are positioned adjacent the roll assembly by piston cylinder assemblies 41a and 41b, respectively. In the position shown at the right-hand portion of FIG. 1, the L-shaped latch 37 has been elevated into engagement with the rest bar by rotation of the handwheel 39, following which the latch 38 is brought into engagement with the top surface of the guide. After the bolts 11b and I2b (FIG. 3), along with the keeper plates 11a and 12a, have been removed, the piston cylinder assemblies 41a and 41b are actuated to displace the cars 31 and 32 away from the roll assembly and thereby taking with them the rest bars and guides. These rest bars may then be reassembled on a replacement roll assembly by reversing the above procedure during which time the screwnut assembly 40 and handwheel 39 can also be employed to precisely position the rest bars and guides relative to the roll body.

With reference now to the apparatus provided to extract the bearing chocks 11 and 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, ary ranged parallel to the rotational axis of the roll assembly there are provided elongated supports 42 and 43 designed to slidably carry sleds 44 and 45, respectively. These sleds have bearing chock support platens 44a and 45a, respectively, each of which preferably includes a projecting stud 46 that extends into a recess formed in the bearing chock. The roll assembly is positioned for extracting the chocks by rotating the handwheel 28, as previously described, until the chocks are supported by the sleds 44 and 45. Piston cylinder assemblies 47 and 48 operatively connected to the sleds 44 and 45, respectively, are actuated to displace'the sleds in a direction away from the roll and carry along with them the respective chocks from the roll.

Prior to removal of the chocks, however, the coupling member 17 must be extracted from the roll assembly, for which purpose a carriage 49 has been provided which is supported on the sled 44 for movement relative thereto by a piston cylinder assembly 50. The carriage 49 has rollers 51 and end plates 52 to support the coupling member during extraction thereof. The extracted position of the coupling and the carriage 49 is shown by phantom lines in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and illustrate a second embodiment of an ap paratus incorporating additional features of the present invention. It will be noted that where there is a similarity of parts between the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, similar reference numerals have been applied to these parts. Furthermore, it is deemed unnecessary to give a detailed description of these parts. It is to be appreciated that, when viewing FIGS. 4 and 5, the cars 31 and 32 for removal of the rest bars have not been shown to enable a clearer view of the parts representing modifications.

These modifications essentially consist of providing an adustable yoke 60 in place of the cradle 21 and providing adjustable platens incorporated in sleds 61, 62 and 63 for supporting the chocks and the coupling to be extracted from a roll assembly. The adjustable yoke 60 comprises a base 64 slidably received in the housing 24 and supported by the screw 25. The

base 64 slidably supports two yokes 65, each formed at their upper ends with semicircular saddle surfaces 65a for engaging and supporting the neck portions 18b and 18c of the roll assembly 10. As best shown in FIG. 5, the yokes 65 are each provided with a rack gear 66. These rack gears extend toward 1 each other and are mutually engaged by an equalizing pinion 67 located between them. Rotation of this pinion by a wrench fitted on one end thereof displaces the yokes mutually a corresponding distance from each other. The employment of the i The bearing chock extractor sleds 61 and 62, as well as the coupling extractor carriage 63, are-each provided with screw. operated jacks 68 which interconnect their platens 61a, 62a, and 63a to the respective cars. These jacks are used to elevate the platens to a desired position where extracting of the chocks or coupling member may be readily accomplished, particularly in the event that differently dimensioned chocks are to be accommodated. In certain applications it may also be desirable to provide side clamps in place of the studs 46, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to secure the chocks to their respective sleds. In this event, vertically extending clamps 69 and 70 may be slidably supported by the platens. Each of the clamps has been provided with horizontal extensions to which there are secured rack gears 72 and 73 that mesh with an equalizing pinion 74. In order to establish a positive clamping force on the chocks by the clamps 69 and 70, piston cylinder assemblies 75 are provided which are carried by the platens and operatively connected to the clamps 69 and 70.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof.

Iclaim:

1. An apparatus for extracting from a roll assembly certain component parts including a bearing chock mounted-on a journal provided adjacent a body portion of a roll, said apparatus comprising:

means for supporting said roll assembly during the extracting of parts therefrom,

said means including a cradle member constructed and arranged for engaging surfaces on said roll located between the roll body and a bearing chock while mounted on a journal of said roll,

bearing chock extracting means for engaging a bearing chock while mounted on a journal of said roll, and

power means associated with said extracting means for displacing said bearing chock from said roll journal.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cradle member comprises a yoke having spaced-apart projecting saddle surfaces for engaging said surfaces on the roll.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising means foradjusting the relative spacing between said saddle surfaces.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said roll assembly is disposed in a horizontal plane relative to the rotational axis thereof and said apparatus further comprises means for adjusting the relative elevation between said chock-extracting means and said cradle member.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein means for adjusting the relative elevation comprises an adjustable positioning member for supporting said cradle member.

6. An apparatus'according to claim 4 wherein said bearing chock-extracting means comprises sled means supported for horizontal movement relative to said roll assembly, said sled means including a platen for engaging the bearing chock, and wherein said adjustable means comprises an adjustable member carried by said sled means and urging said platen into a supporting relation with said chock.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means carried by said platen for establishing a driving relation between said platen and said chock.

8. -An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said component parts include a rest bar disposed between said chock and mounted thereto when the chocks are mounted on said journals, said apparatus further comprising rest bar support means including power means for extracting a. rest bar from said roll assembly.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said rest bar support means further includes a carriage having wheels supported for movement in a direction normal to the roll body.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said carriage further comprises a pair of spaced-apart latches for engaging and supporting said rest bar.

11 An apparatus according to claim, lolwherein each of said latches comprises a pair of spaced fingers extending from .g id carriage, and means for positioning said latches as aunit relative to said carriage.

' l2.1An apparatus in combination with any one of a number of different roll'assemblies adapted for use in a combination wide flange beam and structural shape rolling mill,v

said roll assemblies being characterized by having materially different physical sizes and shapes, each of said roll assemblies including bearing chocks mounted on journals of the roll, and a coupling mounted on one end of the roll;

. said apparatus comprising a roll support cradle having spaced-apart saddles for engaging portions of the roll disposed between a chock and the roll body;

- said cradle adapted to support said roll with the axis of rotation of the roll extending in a horizontal direction;

i a sled slidably supported at each endof s'aid roll assembly and engageable with bearing chocksmountedthereon; means for displacing each sled in a direction'parallel to the roll axis;

a carriage slidably supported by one of said sleds and en- 

1. An apparatus for extractinG from a roll assembly certain component parts including a bearing chock mounted on a journal provided adjacent a body portion of a roll, said apparatus comprising: means for supporting said roll assembly during the extracting of parts therefrom, said means including a cradle member constructed and arranged for engaging surfaces on said roll located between the roll body and a bearing chock while mounted on a journal of said roll, bearing chock extracting means for engaging a bearing chock while mounted on a journal of said roll, and power means associated with said extracting means for displacing said bearing chock from said roll journal.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cradle member comprises a yoke having spaced-apart projecting saddle surfaces for engaging said surfaces on the roll.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising means for adjusting the relative spacing between said saddle surfaces.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said roll assembly is disposed in a horizontal plane relative to the rotational axis thereof and said apparatus further comprises means for adjusting the relative elevation between said chock-extracting means and said cradle member.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein means for adjusting the relative elevation comprises an adjustable positioning member for supporting said cradle member.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said bearing chock-extracting means comprises sled means supported for horizontal movement relative to said roll assembly, said sled means including a platen for engaging the bearing chock, and wherein said adjustable means comprises an adjustable member carried by said sled means and urging said platen into a supporting relation with said chock.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means carried by said platen for establishing a driving relation between said platen and said chock.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said component parts include a rest bar disposed between said chock and mounted thereto when the chocks are mounted on said journals, said apparatus further comprising rest bar support means including power means for extracting a rest bar from said roll assembly.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said rest bar support means further includes a carriage having wheels supported for movement in a direction normal to the roll body.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said carriage further comprises a pair of spaced-apart latches for engaging and supporting said rest bar.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said latches comprises a pair of spaced fingers extending from said carriage, and means for positioning said latches as a unit relative to said carriage.
 12. An apparatus in combination with any one of a number of different roll assemblies adapted for use in a combination wide flange beam and structural shape rolling mill, said roll assemblies being characterized by having materially different physical sizes and shapes, each of said roll assemblies including bearing chocks mounted on journals of the roll, and a coupling mounted on one end of the roll; said apparatus comprising a roll support cradle having spaced-apart saddles for engaging portions of the roll disposed between a chock and the roll body; said cradle adapted to support said roll with the axis of rotation of the roll extending in a horizontal direction; a sled slidably supported at each end of said roll assembly and engageable with bearing chocks mounted thereon; means for displacing each sled in a direction parallel to the roll axis; a carriage slidably supported by one of said sleds and engageable with said coupling mounted on one end of said roll assembly; and means for displacing said carriage relative to said roll assembly in a direction parallel to said roll axis.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 12 further comprisinG: a carriage supported at each side of said roll assembly for movement in a direction normal to said roll axis, and latch means carried by said carriage engageable with rest bars forming part of said roll assembly for displacing each of said carriages relative to said roll assembly. 